League of California Cities Supports the Affordable Housing Bond

League of California Cities Supports the Affordable Housing Bond

Sacramento — The League of California Cities® has announced its support for the Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond that is slated for the November 2018 statewide ballot. The bond will generate $4 billion for affordable housing programs, infill infrastructure projects and the veterans’ homeownership program. The Legislature placed the bond on the ballot through the passage of League-supported SB 3 (Beall) last September.

“The November 2018 Housing Bond is designed to spur investments in local communities, improve neighborhoods and the quality of life for California city residents by providing much-needed funding to increase affordable housing development. California is in the midst of a major housing affordability crisis, and this bond will help create more housing for those who need it most including our veterans, very low- and low-income individuals and families and farmworkers. The League’s support reflects our commitment to policies that begin to address this crisis,” said League President and South San Francisco Council Member Rich Garbarino.

“California has a 3.5 million housing unit shortage for the lowest-income households. We cannot allow the housing crisis to divide Californians into two extreme camps — the advantaged and the disadvantaged,” said Sen. Jim Beall, author of SB 3, the measure that placed the bond on the ballot. “This bond measure will trigger the construction and rehabilitation of thousands of homes and units. Funds will be invested in existing state housing programs that have proven track records of generating housing for vets, seniors, the homeless, and people with low incomes”.

SB 3 was part of the League’s Blueprint for More Housing, which comprised several 2017 bills designed to jump start the development of more affordable housing units through streamlined regulations and new funding sources. These also include SB 2 (Atkins), which is projected to generate millions of dollars annually for affordable housing, emergency shelters and other housing needs and League-sponsored SB 540 (Roth), which streamlines the housing approval process in Workforce Housing Opportunity Zones. Gov. Jerry Brown signed those bills on Sept. 27, 2017 as part of a 15 bill housing package approved by the Legislature.

If approved by voters in November, the Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond will fund a number of programs and breathe new life into existing housing programs that have proven, over the years, to be effective. California cities are eager to access much needed affordable housing funding to jumpstart construction.

To help cities navigate the new housing laws that went into effect on Jan. 1, the League prepared a comprehensive compendium that is available at www.cacities.org/2018HousingLaws.

Established in 1898, the League of California Cities is a nonprofit statewide association that advocates for cities with the state and federal governments and provides education and training services to elected and appointed city officials.